The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1887-02-12
EMPLOYMENT FOR WOMEN.

Mr.. Curtis DIscoursss from HIS Easy
Chair" Upon Domestic Service.
There is one employment open to VIC
men which Mr. Hewitt thinks is not
overcrowded. This is domestic service,
and women whom the conditions of de-
msnd and supply exclude from occupa-
tons are exhorted upon all sides to find
IN the kitchen haven of rest. 1t is
evident, indeed, that a great many of
them need no e1hortation to this end.
for there is no kitchen in the land in
which women are not found. But this
is not denied. The trouble is that can.
able women prefer any other employment
than domestic service, and resort to it
only whom o'her ways are closed. Mr..
Hewitt says truly that there is nothing
Illuminating in domestic service. So
thought George Herbert:
Who sweep room as for thy laws
Makes that and tn action fine
That. indeed, is the spirit which makes
all drudgery divine. But in dealing
practically with the question we are COM
PEELED to recall the remark of the wise
father to his married daughter, who was
pouring out the familiar complaint of
the kitchen, My dear, you cannot ex.
pect all the cardinal virtues for thirtesu
dollars a mouth"
MIR. Hewitt not only justly says that
there is nothing essentially hunilating
IN domestic service, but he says that in
the home of his youth 1.-THE servant girl
always sat at the same table with the
family" and did not regard herself in a
position Of social inferiority. This il.
still the custom and the feeling in many
OF the more secluded parts OF New En-
gland. The word which aptly describes
1.-The hired girl'' in the house or .the
hired man. in the field is help" The
same sentiment of the relation leads to
the use of the word hands to describe
the workmen in factory. To hire the
labor of others is merely to multiply
your own power, your own hands. The
sense Of equality remains. There is no
feeling OF basement or humiliation. Mr..
Hewitt proceeds to say that it would be
very fortunate and greatly aid the solu.
ton of the problem if the old relation
between tie servant and the family
could be restored. 1t was, in fact, that
Of tho master and the apprentice who
lived in the masters family as a member
of it.
But Mr. Hewitt says that "of course,
what is known as fash ionable society
could not undertake to establish a basis
of equality between master and servant,
or employer and employed within the
social circle. That is not to be expected
where ordinary common sense prevails"
Mr.. Hewitt here states one of the reasons
why domestic service is peculiarly dis
tasteful to great numbers of women.
The main reasons. indeed, are two: One
is the total surrender of the whole life
to the commands of others, and the other
is the sense of interiority which is made
to accompany it. These, indeed. are the
characteristics Of slavery. Many women
naturally prefer lower wages for work
aud obedience to others during a certain
number of hours every day and COM
plete freedom during the remainder than
the underwriting service of the kitchen
all the time. This, however, might be
alleviated by the family fellowship. But
since many causes prevent that fellow
ship it is idle to wonder that women
prefer harder work and smaller wages
elsewhere to domestic service.
WeekLN.